Carl and Agnes Wennerberg are my grandparents who lived in Wisconsin. They were born and raised in northwest Wisconsin. My middle name was chosen to reflect and honor my Grandpa Wennerberg. He lived to be 83. Grandma Wennerberg's name means "purity." We named our youngest daughter Madalyn Kaya. Kaya means "purity"- this for my Grandma. She lived to be 86. Both my grandparents were very interesting people. My grandma one day had planned on rewarding Julie, Jessica, and myself as we were walking into the IGA in Spooner, to do some grocery shopping. For this reward, she stopped, turned to us, and pulled out a $1 bill. This was a big deal for her. I don't remember thinking it was very much money. I might have been 14 or 15, Julie 11-12, and Jessica would have been 7 or 8.
On another instance, and I don't remember the day clearly, but I think it was earlier than this. I was younger, and we were again shopping in Spooner or Rice Lake. Grandma, my mom and I walked into a store- it may have been Ben Franklins. I recall seeing a Where's Waldo book on the shelf, and began looking at the pages to find Waldo. Grandma saw what I was looking at and asked me what it was. Now, she was in her 70's, and not "in tune" with what us young Michigan kids were experiencing. I took very little time to explain what the Where's Waldo book was about, and without hesitating, she said something like this, "Well, what are you going to do after you find them all?", and promptly walked away.
She blew my mind.
This was a fun book with lots of characters on each two page "map" of people and things. Waldo was extremely hard to find, and there were probably 10-15 sets of "maps" in this book.
My grandmother knew that after I found Waldo, there would be no other purpose to this book. In addition, I think she considered it a waste of time to begin with, although she never said that to me.
I have thought of this one statement off and on since then. Some implications of this statement to me were:
1) The world will produce an endless stream of things to keep you busy. Sometimes this is intentional. Either intentional or not, many things that look charming, worthwhile, and useful are in the end, a waste of your time. The world doesn't think about you and your time, many times, they just want your money, or for you to encourage others to give them their money, or both.
2) The world's solution to many things is temporary. The book had an end. In addition, once I had found Waldo on each page, the entire purpose of the book was void. In a similar manner, the world finds a solution to our "book" needs, and gives us something that will end quickly or be void in spite of its claims. We may not figure it out soon enough.
3) Those who are older than us have a special ability to see through these flaws. It did me well to listen to her advice even though she left it up to me to decide on the purchase.
4) Grandma valued a dollar. She knew how hard things were through the Great Depression, and lived a hard working life as a farmer's wife. Mother of five, she knew what things would cost. Because of this, she knew that Where's Waldo would have been a complete flop for me.
5) In following the thought in #1 above, if things generally produced by the world are a waste of your time, than there must be something more valuable to do with your time. In essence, my grandmother said to me a couple things- "David, you and your time are more valuable than that book. You are better than that." -"Seek a higher goal for yourself. Pursue a better purpose." These two statements are inestimable in value to me.
Proverbs 1:8, Proverbs 9:9, Ecclesiates 1:1-7, 1 Corinthians 3:19
Saturday, February 26, 2011
The foundation of this "foundation"
There are many reasons why I would like to begin posting thoughts, feelings, and other statements on a forum such as this.
1) In the age of communication and constant contact, information seems available, but is easily lost and buried with new information coming out later, and "more important" or "more up to date."
This cycle has continued for quite some time. New technology destroys old technology, and information created and/or stored in the old technology can be long forgotten. I intend to use a newer platform to set in stone the "old ways."
2) In addition, I have found especially in reading about the founders of our United States of America, that those men wrote things down, and did so with regularity. If they had not, we wouldn't know very much about our founding, or about those men. Some recorded items are more valuable than others, but those who reap the rewards of written work can apply any piece of those notes at any time. This value has only survived because those men took time to write things down, and keep those writings. I want to record my information/my thoughts in a similar fashion.
3) I am a father of four children who change every day. In a lot of ways, I am unable to share things I have learned with them. They aren't old enough for many subjects, and aren't experienced enough in others. My other option is to wait for the right moment to teach or transfer knowledge. He who hesitates is lost right? If you don't act on instinct sometimes, you miss the opportunity. I don't want to miss an opportunity to teach my children. I intend to post things for my children's admonition so if I am not here to share this with them, or if I forget to, they have an avenue to research what I might have said. This is more important than the first two.
4) Sharing things in another forum is not very beneficial. Facebook "notes" and daily writing are a passing fancy. Referring to #1 above, this follows in line. Several postings on facebook might attrack a few reads from a few friends, leaving less important "commenting" a priority. Ironic isn't it? Social networking time is not "serious time." This should be a serious time.
5) Many people don't really say what they mean. I want mainly my children to know exactly what their father's thoughts were at the time he had them. How can I at 53 share my thoughts from my 31st year with my daughter accurately when she is 31? In addition, people who know each other "well" don't really know what their friends think about a lot of things. More communication can benefit others with a common feeling, and could be encouraging and helpful.
6) I am moved often by things I hear, especially while reading the Bible or listening to a sermon while driving. I don't feel that I have an outlet or the time to say what needs to be said. This item and reason for this blog is paramount. Of all the things to talk about and share with a friend, acquaintance, or child, what God has said in His Word overshadows and trumps every other subject God has given man.
7) Hard work and making money isn't the only thing to teach another.
It is for these reasons that I post. This first post is at least for me, a mission of what I need to stay focused on.
I Corinthians 14:40, Proverbs 4:1
1) In the age of communication and constant contact, information seems available, but is easily lost and buried with new information coming out later, and "more important" or "more up to date."
This cycle has continued for quite some time. New technology destroys old technology, and information created and/or stored in the old technology can be long forgotten. I intend to use a newer platform to set in stone the "old ways."
2) In addition, I have found especially in reading about the founders of our United States of America, that those men wrote things down, and did so with regularity. If they had not, we wouldn't know very much about our founding, or about those men. Some recorded items are more valuable than others, but those who reap the rewards of written work can apply any piece of those notes at any time. This value has only survived because those men took time to write things down, and keep those writings. I want to record my information/my thoughts in a similar fashion.
3) I am a father of four children who change every day. In a lot of ways, I am unable to share things I have learned with them. They aren't old enough for many subjects, and aren't experienced enough in others. My other option is to wait for the right moment to teach or transfer knowledge. He who hesitates is lost right? If you don't act on instinct sometimes, you miss the opportunity. I don't want to miss an opportunity to teach my children. I intend to post things for my children's admonition so if I am not here to share this with them, or if I forget to, they have an avenue to research what I might have said. This is more important than the first two.
4) Sharing things in another forum is not very beneficial. Facebook "notes" and daily writing are a passing fancy. Referring to #1 above, this follows in line. Several postings on facebook might attrack a few reads from a few friends, leaving less important "commenting" a priority. Ironic isn't it? Social networking time is not "serious time." This should be a serious time.
5) Many people don't really say what they mean. I want mainly my children to know exactly what their father's thoughts were at the time he had them. How can I at 53 share my thoughts from my 31st year with my daughter accurately when she is 31? In addition, people who know each other "well" don't really know what their friends think about a lot of things. More communication can benefit others with a common feeling, and could be encouraging and helpful.
6) I am moved often by things I hear, especially while reading the Bible or listening to a sermon while driving. I don't feel that I have an outlet or the time to say what needs to be said. This item and reason for this blog is paramount. Of all the things to talk about and share with a friend, acquaintance, or child, what God has said in His Word overshadows and trumps every other subject God has given man.
7) Hard work and making money isn't the only thing to teach another.
It is for these reasons that I post. This first post is at least for me, a mission of what I need to stay focused on.
I Corinthians 14:40, Proverbs 4:1
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